AN EAST Lancashire catering manager is bidding to show Simon Cowell she has the X Factor.

Stephanie Horne, of Rawtenstall, is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Huncoat singer Diana Vickers by winning through the final stages of the hit ITV show with her group, The Brewer Sisters.

The 35-year-old has been singing with her three sisters, Rachel, 39 of Haslingden, Naomi L’Estrange, now of Lincolnshire and Faith Brewer, 32, of Salford, for 27 years.

And she has already secured a chance to impress Cowell and other judges Dannii Minogue, Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh, by winning a place in the live auditions at Old Trafford.

Stephanie, who works at St Bede’s College in Manchester, said: “I always thought that we should have gone on Opportunity Knocks when we were smaller, but this is our chance at stardom and we hope to grab it with both hands.

“The idea about us going on X Factor came when we sang recently at a friend’s party and got such a good reception from the audience that we decided to give it a go.

“It has also meant that we have to spend quite a lot of time together to practise for the auditions, which is really nice.”

The Brewers were all members of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain when they were younger, and toured all over the world but have never sung professionally.

Stephanie added: “We are really looking forward to the audition, but a bit anxious about the new format.

“We have always sung acapella, so now to be asked to sing to a backing track is something we are not used to but really excited about.

“Everyone at the college has been supportive about me going on the show; the students keep giving me the X-Factor sign and asking when the programme will be shown and even the headmaster, Michael Barber, has said he will tune in.”

The programme is expected to be screened in August.